Bird Sightings

The Phalarope has been re-identified as a Red-necked Phalarope. Seen this morning again in the pond by thge barn across the river from Marstage Farm

The Grey Phalarope was filmed by Warwickshire birder Steve McAusland.

At Skern Lapwing, Redshank, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Wigeon, Shelduck, Mallard, Brent Geese, Linnet, Starling, Pied Wagtail, Herring Gull, Black Headed Gull, Magpie, Rook and a Black Redstart ( thanks to Sue)..

At Northern Burrows Starling Linnet, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, Goldfinch and 4 Snow Bunting but now maybe 3 after one was chased by a Sparrowhawk and we didn’t see the end result.

A Grey Phalarope was seen and filmed at Sherpa Marsh this afternoon. Sadly not by me.

Ringed another 48 birds today, including 5 in-bound Song Thrushes (but no Redwings), 2 Chiffs, and a Blackcap. 16 Greenfinch. Retraps included a Kingfisher, a Goldcrest and a Reed Warbler, which I ringed a couple of weeks back weighing in at a solid 14.5 grams. Today it weighed 17.4! Enough for a one-hop flight to Africa?

Seen today were: in the estuary, 4 newly-arrived G-c Grebes, 50+ Pintail and 300+ Golden Plover, in the fields around Turf, a Cattle Egret, 250+ Fieldfares and 50+ Redwings, and, on Exminster Marsh, 2 Marsh Harriers and 250+ Lapwings. Water re-appearing and bird numbers rising.

Early morning on Crownhill Down. Fieldfares, Redwings, GWP’s and GSW’s,Coal tits along the bridlepath. Ravens a Kestrel and Stonechats on the moor top. A Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plovers together with c. 30 Golden Plover on the edge of TWL.

Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Green Woody, Redwing, Jay, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Firecrest, Goldcrest, Mistle and Song Thrush, Blue, Great, Coal & Long Tailed Tit, Chiffchaff and a late Swallow. I’m also certain I heard a Black Redstart but not confident enough to mark it as a year tick there. Just giving fair warning there might be one around.

A rather unseasonal feel to the birds this afternoon with Whimbrel & Whinchat new in and the juv Curlew Sandpiper still around. Also, Cetti’s Warbler heard again, 2 Reed Buntings, Bullfinch, Stonechat, Green & 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Snipe, Common Sandpiper, 7 Greenshanks, 52 Dunlins, 9 Wigeon & 4 Roe Deer.

Still some movement inc.Woodpigeon 1100 (760E 340W), Stock Dove 48W, Meadow Pipit 60 (40W & 20 grounded), Mistle Thrush 5 (4N & one grounded), starling 105 (65W 20E 20 grounded), Chaffinch 112W & Siskin 21W. Also: 2 Pintail, 8 Teal, Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker, 370 Skylark, Grey Wagtail, 18 Song Thrush, 31 Blackbird, 6 Fieldfare, 105 goldfinch, 6 Bullfinch, 44 Yellowhammer, 41 Cirl Bunting & 2 Reed Bunting.

Spent a large part of the day at our field having a bonfire. Lots of jackdaws and rooks and a couple of ravens. Two buzzards floating over us, but the biggest surprise was the number of butterflies, red admirals and peacocks, singly and in pairs. Must have been over a dozen of each. Little other birdlife or calls save for a resident robin and two male pheasants.

A new garden tick in the shape of a Black Redstart on my roof in Darwin Crescent. Picking off insects around the chimney. Also a Raven overhead.

A single late Swallow flying low over the burnt ground at Baggy earlier this morning. Skylark autumn song in the fields above.

A Chiffchaff calling from vegetation surrounding the pond.

No sighting of any Scoters yet.

A  substantial amount of lost habitat as a result of the gorse fire during the summer.

High tide visit of two hours,

1 Purple Heron, 1 drake Mandarin, 1 Spotted Redshank and a very busy hide.

A Yellow-browed Warbler in willows at the edge of the Maer long-stay carpark this afternoon. Still present 3pm at least. Also Firecrest and 3+ Chiffchaffs. On Orcombe Point – still 2 Dartford Warblers in the turnip field, and at Shelly beach – a male Black Redstart. Off Orcombe – 1 Red-throated Diver and 7 Common Scoters.

On Blaxton Meadow during this afternoon’s high tide: Curlew Sandpiper (juv) still, Turnstone, 8 Greenshanks, Snipe, Kingfisher, 2 Mediterranean Gulls (ad-w & 2nd-w) & 17 Wigeon. Great Spotted Woodpecker nearby.

Looks like the bulk of Woodpigeons went through yesterday (65,000 over Purbeck) with just 400E this morning at Soar. Also: 41 Stock Dove (20W 21E), 2 Pintail, 4 Teal, Fieldfare, Cetti’s Warbler, 250 Skylark grounded, Starling 83E, Jackdaw 3W, Chaffinch 33W & Goldfinch 7W. Siskins heard.